He climbed the mountain of Nebo beside the plains of Moab. His tired feet and aging body, straining at each step. I imagine the proximity of the Promised Land was the fuel that propelled him to move forward to the top of the mountain after 40 years of wandering and waiting.

“Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 34.

Moses would never taste the sweetness of the land “flowing with milk and honey.” His eyes would only see if from a distance. God would give him that.

“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab,” the Bible says.

I’ll be honest. I had a problem with this passage of Scripture for a long time.

I know, I know! Moses messed up. In the book of Numbers, we read about his disobedience concerning God’s instructions to speak to the rock instead of striking it to bring forth water to the Jews in the wilderness.

But, man! Talk about harsh punishment (or so I thought)! After all, the man led the Israelites out of Egypt and turned a crowd of slaves into a nation. And not just any nation — God’s own chosen people!

Moses delivered God’s commandments and later was used to write His laws.

He put up with the unbelieving, rebellious crowd, leading them and repeatedly interceding on their behalf when God vowed to bring forth judgment.

Yet, a seemingly small mistake stopped him just a few miles from the borders of the Promised Land.

I finished a study on the book of Deuteronomy thinking about the death of Moses. On that same day, a godly friend lost his battle with cancer.

People from all over the world had prayed fervently for his healing, but the miracle never came. That morning, as I read about Moses’ passing, I could not help but think about the strong faith and unwavering trust in God that both Moses and my friend held close to their hearts until the very end.

As I prayed for the family, puzzled by the seeming unfairness of it all, a passage in the book of Isaiah rang loudly in my spirit:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Prophet Isaiah, chapter 55.

While meditating on these verses, God reminded me that His promises and covenant to his children are not limited to this life. Even though his ways are often inscrutable, His goodness and grace are not.

God's promises and covenant to his children are not limited to this life. Even though his ways are often inscrutable, His goodness and grace are not. @AJC #MondayThoughts #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation
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Moses didn’t set foot on the Promised Land because God’s plans for him were better: He took him to the eternal Promised Land of heaven.

There, Moses’ heart would not be broken by rebellious Israel again. There, his aching bones would find complete healing, and his tired soul would finally find true joy and rest. There would be no more pain, no more sorrow.

And as the children of Israel went into battle to conquer the land, Moses was spared. Instead of going through more strife and pain, he embraced his reward.

Oh! What a blessed assurance to wrap around our hearts when a loved one, a child of God, leaves this earth! What a wonderful truth to cling to when death or the troubles of this life make no sense:

That our God is still good, even when the worst happens, and He hears our prayers, even when the healing or deliverance doesn’t come on this side of eternity.

Comfort in the Death of a Loved One {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
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Moses’ eyes may have seen the earthly Promised Land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob only from a distance. His feet never touched it. But as he opened his eyes again, God welcomed him into the true Promised Land.

At a time when we witness so many deaths in America and abroad, and loved ones “lose” life’s battles way too soon, may we remind our hearts that, so long as they were God’s children, they did not lose. They won.

Indeed, God’s love and mercy took them home to the Promised Land of heaven, where there is no sorrow nor pain. And even though we will miss them until the day we die, we can rejoice in the fact that we will see them again.

As we witness so many deaths in America and abroad, and loved ones “lose” life’s battles way too soon, may we remind our hearts that, so long as they were God’s children, they did not lose. They won. God’s love and mercy took them home…
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – May 22, 2021. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post Comfort in the Death of a Loved One {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4

He would never taste the milk and honey. Ever. But His eyes would see if from a distance.

God would give him that.

And just as he saw the Promise Land, his heart stopped… and he rested in Him.

“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said.” (v.5)

I’ll be honest with you. I had a problem with this part of Scripture for a long time.

I know, I know. Moses messed up. He struck the rock instead of speaking to it.

But, man! Talk about harsh punishment (my flesh says)!

After all, he led the Israelites out of Egypt and turned a crowd of slaves into a Nation.

Not just any nation…God’s chosen people.

He delivered God’s commandments and later was used to write God’s laws.

He put up with this unbelieving, rebellious nation time and again, and yet, prayed for them, interceded on their behalf when God vowed to punish them.

And yet, a seemingly small mistake stopped him just a few miles from the borders of the Promise he held close to his heart.

I finished a study on the book of Deuteronomy thinking about the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34). On that same day, a godly father our family knew lost his battle to cancer.

People from all over the world prayed fervently for his healing. We believed God for a miracle.

But the miracle didn’t come.

As I read about Moses’ passing, I could not help but think of the promise this friend held close to his heart to the very end.The Promise of a future where he would see his children get married and have children.

And as my heart ached for the family, and for a life seemingly cut short…

As I read about Moses’ death, and my flesh wanted to scream again: “Oh, Lord, why not let him step foot in the Promise?”

God’s word through Isaiah rang loudly in my spirit:

“Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14)

And later in his book:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

As I meditated on these well-known verses, the Holy Spirit whispered:

“Moses didn’t set foot on the Promise Land, because his mission was finished. He had run his race, finished the course. My plans for him were better. Sweeter than honey.  I brought him to the REAL Promise Land.”

There, Moses’ heart would not be broken by rebellious Israel again.

There, his aching bones would find complete healing. His tired soul would finally find joy… and rest.

There, there would be no more pain, no more sorrow.

And while the children of Israel went into battle, and later rebelled once again against God, Moses was spared.

And instead of going through more strife and pain, HE EMBRACED HIS REWARD.

Oh, friend, what a blessed assurance to wrap around our hearts when a loved one, a child of the Living God leaves this earth!

What a wonderful Truth to cling to when the troubles of life, and even death does not make sense on this side of eternity:

That we cannot comprehend God’s mercies and grace… And yet, we KNOW they are true and eternal!

That life is but a vapor, and soon we will be reunited with those who go before us, so long as our lives belong to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Better yet, we can tell our hearts this amazing truth:

That our God is still good, even when the worst happens… And our prayers were heard, even though the healing didn’t come.

our God is still good, even when the worst happens… And our prayers were heard, even though the healing didn’t come.
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Moses saw the TRUE Promise Land, way before Joshua and Caleb did.

His eyes saw Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s Promise Land from a distance…

But His feet stepped onto the streets of gold.

As people we love seem to “lose” life’s battles way too soon, and although the sorrow and depression will be certain for a season…

Even though we will miss them until the day God calls us home… may we hold on to this truth, and tell it to our saddened hearts:

They didn’t lose. They won. God’s love and mercy took them home.

And because we believe in the same Savior… and because His stripes healed us all,

We will soon see them again.

The post When Death Makes No Sense appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.